John Brown, 30-year-old Negro of Lugoff, yesterday confessed to Columbia detectives the killing on August 24 of his brother-in-law, Edward Spaights, also of Lugoff.

Mrs. J. H. McLeod, sheriff of Kershaw county, said last night that Spaights was killed by being struck on the head with a stick on a lonely stretch of US highway No. 1 near Lugoff, between Camden and Blaney.

Brown, in an affidavit which he signed here yesterday, said that he and Spaight met on the highway and had an argument over belonging to Brown which Spaights allegedly used without permission and wrecked. Brown said they fought and that he struck Spaights over the head with a large stick. Spaights, he said, “fell down and didn’t move.”

Brown was accompanied by two other Negroes, Russell Brown and Isaac Hill, Sheriff McLeod said. The three men lifted Spaight’s body onto the highway and left it lying there, she said.

A few moments later a passing motorist saw the body and hurried on to Camden where it was reported. Other motorists stopped at the scene and moved the boyd off the highway.

The position of the body as reported by the first motorist was quite different from the position reported by the second person to see it. Sheriff McLeod said last night. She remarked that there were indications that the body was moved again by the tree Negroes in the hope that it would be hit by an automobile and that evidence of any crime would be thereby erased..

Columbia police who question Brown said the body was placed on the highway with the head resting on a dead man’s shoes no explanation was given for this action.

Isaac Hill and Russell Brown were both arrested on August 25, the Sunday following the Saturday night killing. Sheriff McLeod said neither of the arrested men would give any information regarding the killing. Both are being held at Camden.

John Brown remained at large until Monday of this week, when he was arrested on suspicion. Questioning by Kershaw County officers was unsuccessful, Mrs. McLeod reported, so he was turned over to Columbia please for further investigation.

City Detective G. A. Fulmer and Harry Snipes talked with Brown Tuesday night and yesterday. Brown agreed to sign an affidavit yesterday in which he describes the killing.

Brown was taken back to Camden yesterday afternoon, Mrs. McLeod said. A warrant was sworn out for his arrest on a murder charge. He will face trial in the October term of general sessions court in Kershaw county, Mrs. McLeod said.